Macbeth (1971)

Buy This Item Macbeth (1971) by Sony Pictures  Available from Amazon  $19.98  on 11-25-2008     Roman Polanski's adaptation of the Shakespearean tragedy remains one of the most infamous for a number of reasons: the copious amounts of bloody gore, its expert use of location settings (filmed in North Wales), and Lady Macbeth's nude sleepwalking scene. Despite its notoriety, though, this does remain one of the more compelling film adaptations of the Scottish tragedy, if one of the more pessimistic takes on the story of Macbeth and his overreaching ambition. If you think the play is normally a bit of a downer, you haven't seen Polanski's bleak version of it, made in reaction to the murder of his wife, Sharon Tate, by the Manson "family." Jon Finch (Hitchcock's <I>Frenzy</I>) is an forceful Macbeth, bringing out the Scot's warrior instincts, and Francesca Annis is a memorable Lady Macbeth, but the main thrust of the film belongs to Polanski's and noted British playwright and critic Kenneth Tynan's take on the play: extremely violent, nihilistic, and visceral; this is down-in-the-dirt, no-holds-barred Shakespeare, not fussy costume drama. Pay close attention to the end, a silent coda that puts a chilling twist on all the action that has come beforehand and foreshadows more tragedy to come. <I>--Mark Englehart</I> Reader Reviews As an English teacher, this a great version to complement the reading of the play. However, you must exercise caution as there is lots of blood and gore with this version. There is also a nude scene that is generally unappropriate for school viewing (I cover the lens of my projector so that the students just hear the dialogue of Lady Macbeth). If you are able to handle the extra, this a great addition.

Macbeth (1971) Available from Amazon Price: $19.98 Updated on 11-25-2008.

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